Son of Westchester's top cop arrested for vandalism

Police say the son of the Westchester police commissioner was caught red-handed and is now facing vandalism charges in Putnam County and Connecticut.

State police in New York and Connecticut along with the Putnam County Sheriff's Department say they have been investigating a string of vandalism involving mailbox smashing. Police say the cases were very similar, where the suspects used the mailboxes to further damage homes and vehicles.

State police say Friday they found four teens throwing a mailbox through the front window of a home on Settlers Hill Road in Brewster, near the Connecticut border. One of those arrested was 18-year-old Mark Belfiore, the son of Westchester Police Commissioner Thomas Belfiore. The teens are facing charges of criminal mischief, trespassing and conspiracy. One of the teens is also charged with DWI.

Police Commissioner Thomas Belfiore issued a statement Tuesday. In it, he says he's heartbroken about his son?s alleged involvement in the incident. Belfiore added that his "empathy goes out to those who had their property vandalized." ?Now like everyone else, my family will go through the criminal justice process and hope for a just outcome for all,? Belfiore?s statement reads.

Meanwhile, police in Danbury, Connecticut say the same four suspects had been arrested on charges of criminal mischief and disturbing the peace for breaking a window at an area business.